Routt, Eagle Dems to ‘meet in the middle’ to choose interim legislator

Eligibility criteria to seek to fill the balance of the legislative term of State Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, representing Routt and Eagle counties:

• At least 25 years of age

• A resident of Colorado for at least one year

• A resident of Colorado House District 26 for at least 12 months

• Registered as a Democrat for at least one year

• A citizen of the United States

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Members of the Democratic parties in Routt and Eagle counties have agreed to meet approximately in the middle at 10 a.m. Oct. 28,when they convene at the historic Crossans' Market building in Yampa to screen and vote on candidatesinterested in serving the balance of the legislative term of State Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, D-Steamboat Springs.

The meeting will be open to the public, and applications to fill out the district's legislative term are being accepted.

Mitsch Bush announced July 6 that she intended to resign her House District 26 seat this autumn after fulfilling her role on the legislative committee in order to challenge Congressman Scott Tipton in the 2018 race for Colorado's 3rd CongressionalDistrict seat.

Mitsch Bush made it official Monday and plans to formally resign her seat Nov. 2.

"I amproud to have represented all the people of my two rural, mountain headwaters counties," Mitsch Bush said in a news release.

She has served the district since 2013 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2016.

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Her decision kicks off another political process as the Democratic Party's House District 26 Vacancy Committee prepares to choose a replacement who would fill out the balance of Mitsch Bush’s current term through 2018.

The vacancy committee is asking people interested in the legislative appointment to e-mail a letter of intent, professional resume and a completed candidate information form to h26vcancy@gmail.comno later than 5 p.m. Oct. 20.

Nominations will also be taken from the floor during the meeting in Yampa.

Prospective candidates may follow this link to read the details of how to be considered.

And two prominent Democrats in Eagle County are already in pursuit of the House District 26 seat, not just to fill out the term of Mitsch Bush but in the 2018 election as well.

Steamboat Springs native and current Eagle County Deputy District Attorney Dylan Roberts announced July 19 he plans to run for Colorado House District 26 in the 2018 election.

Jill Ryan, a two-term Eagle County commissioner and chairman of the board, announced her candidacy for the seat on July 28.

Both Ryan and Roberts have filed their candidate affidavits and committee registration forms. No fundraising reports are yet due.

The committee is also asking all candidates nominatedfrom the floor to submit the same information when nominated.

Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the legislative session after their election, which begins no later than 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of January.